Inside pipe cutter



G F LE BUS IN SIDE PIPE CUTTER Filed Feb. 17, 1925 2 SheeQ-Sheec 1 S E S m H W March 23 1926.

INVENTOR George lTleBus,

wm4 X61 ATTORNEYS March 23 1926.

G. F. LE BUS INSIDE PIPE CUTTER Filed Feb. 1'7 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR George ZZefiue,

WITNESSES f7 NW1 1 BY a 94 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. LE BUS, OF ELECTRA, TEXAS.

INSIDE PIPE CUTTER.

Application filed February 17, 1925. Serial No. 9,805.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon F. LE Bus,

I a citizen of the United States, and a resi- I and accurately.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pipe cutter of the character described-which is adapted for use within a pipe to cut through the walls of the pipe at a plurality of spaced points along the length of the pipe without there being any necessity of removing the pipe cutter from the pipe between successive cutting operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pipe cutter of the character described which can be conveniently actuated from one end of a. pipe of considerable length, as for example a well casing, to cut through the pipe at any predetermined point along the length of the 1 e. P lSther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fi ure 1 is a vertical section through a tu ular casing in which .the improved pipe cutter is disposed, the cutting elements of the pipe cutter being shown in contracted and inactive positions and portions of thepipe cutter being shown in section, and other portions in side elevation.

Figure2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the position of the cutting el-' ments of the device after cutting through.

the tubular casing in which the device is disposed.

the structure exhibited in Figure 2, the view being taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modification, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 4:, showing a further modification.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive,

4 it will be observed that a pipe cutterembodying the invention comprises a body having a head portion 1, from one end of which an axial tapering threaded stem 2 extends. A second stem extends axially from the oppositeend of the head 1 and may comprise an inner end portion 3 and an outer end portion 5. The inner end portion 3 is of greater area in cross-section than the outer end portion 5, whereby a shoulder 6 is defined at the juncture of the inner end portion 3 and the outer end portion 5. This shoulder 6 may be beveled as shown.

I The head 1 is formed with longitudinal recesses 7 extending in its outer wall at points spaced circumferentially of the'head- Each recess 7 has straight parallel side walls as shown and extends longitudinally of the head from the end thereof from which the stem 35 extends for part of the length of the head. A transverse shaft 8 extends through the upper part of each recess 7. A milling cutter 9 having laterally turned teeth at its outer end as indicated at 10 is provided for each of the recesses 7 and has a transverse opening adjacent to its inner end through which one of the shafts '8 extends, whereby each milling cutter 9 will be supported in its particular recess 7 to swing outwardly beyond the periphery 'of its recess 7 along the inner end portion 3 of the second named stem, as shown in Figure '1. A radial pocket 11 is formed in the inner wall of the upper part of each recess 7 for the reception of an expansion spring 12 which frictionally engages with the inner end portion of the associated milling cutter and tends to hold the milling cutter in any position to which it may have j been moved about the axis of its support- Figure 3 is a transverse section through.

ing shaft 8, the-wall of the milling cutter with which the spring 11 is in frictional contact being convexly curved as shown.

A Presser ring 13 is slidableon the inner end portion 3 of the second named stem and has a beveled end wall 14 adapted to engage with the convexly curved inner side walls 15 of the milling cutters and to cam the millin cutters outward from contracted or inwardly swung positions toward expanded active positions when the presser ring 13 is forced from the position shown in Figure 1 toward the adjacent end of the head 1. An expansion spring 16 encircles the second 'named stem of the body of the cutter between the presser ring 13 and the adjacent end of a connecting sleeve 17 which has an internally enlarged inner end portion provided with internal screw threads as indicated at 18 in engagement with external screw threads 19. on the outer end portion of the inner end portion 3 of the second named stem of the cutter body. The outer end portion of the sleeve 17 has a bore 20 of less diameter than the threaded bore 18 through which the outer end portion 5 of the second named stem of the cutter body extends slidably, a shoulder 21 thus being produced at the junctureof the portions 20 and 18 of the bore of the sleeve 17. A stop nut 22 .which is in threaded engagement with the extreme outer end portion of the portion 5 of the second named stem of the cutter body limits the retrograde movement of the connecting sleeve 17 on the second named stem of the cutter body. The spring 16 is in a position of re:t when the connecting sleeve 17 is at the limit of its movement to ward the outer end of the stem '3--5 as shown at Figure 1 and will be compressed when the sleeve 17 is screwed on the stem 3-5 from the position illustrated in Figure 1 toward the position shown in Figure 2 and then will force the ring 13 against the milling cutters 9, whereby the milling cutteis 9 will be swun outwardly to expanded positions and yieldingly held in expanded positions. A tubular housing member 23 surrounds the spring 16 and may abut at one end against the adjacent end of the presser ring 13 and have the opposite end portion thereof disposed in loosely encircling relation to the adjacent end portion of the sleeve 17 which is reduced as indicated at 24, thus defining a shoulder 25 which constitutes a stop for preventing outward movement of the housing member 23 on the stem 3-5. The outer end portion of the sleeve 17 is reduced, tapered andprovided with external screw threads as indicated at 26 for engaging with internal screw threads on the adjacent end portion of a union 2-7 which also has screw threads 28 on the inner wall of its other end for engaging with external screw threads on the adjacent end of a rigid tubular suspension member 29. The internal screw threads on the opposite end portions of the union 27 extend in opposite directions as is usual.

The head 1 has transverse openings extending through the lower portions of the recesses 7 for the reception of removable transverse shafts 30 for pivotally supporting dogs 31, each of which is mounted intermediate its length on one of the shafts 30 and is swingable about the axis of its supporting shaft 30 from contracted position in which it is entirely disposed in one of the recesses 7 to expanded active position in which the end portion thereof nearest to the stem 2 has been swung outward beyond the periphery of the head 1. Each dog 31 has the end thereof nearest to the stem 2 beveled as indicated at 32, thus providing a relatively sharp contact edge at 33 on its outer face. An expansion spring 31 is provided for each of the recesses 7 and is seated at its lower end in a radially extending pocket in an inner wall of the recess 7 in position to react against the end portion of its associated dog 31 which is nearezt to the stem 2 and to act continuously to urge the dog toward expanded active position.

The connecting sleeve 17 has the intermediate portion thereof formed with longitudinally extending slots or recesses 36 corresponding in number with the recessesv 7 and spaced circumferentially of the sleeve 17. The sleeve 17 also is provided with transverse openings 37 extending through the side walls of each recess 36 and with a pocket 38 in the inner wall of each recess 36 outwardly from the opening 37. Each opening 37 is of the same size as each opening of the body 1 in which one of the shafts 30 is disposed and the recesses 36 with the openings 37 and the pockets 38 associated therewith are provided for a purpose to be presently directed.

The cutter body is provided with an axial bore 39 which extends the entire length of the cutter body as shown in Figure 1. The

' recesses 7.

The construction exhibited in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is used substantially as follows The cutter body connected to the tubular suspension member 29 by the sleeve 17 and the union 27 and carrying the hereinbefore described parts is lowered in a tubular casing 4-1, which-may be a well casing, to a desired position in the well casing. The rigid suspension member 29 may be the usual drill pipe. The springs 34 will act to force the pivoted dogs 31 to expanded positions and the friction between these dogs and the inner wall of the casing will hold the head 1 against'rotation in the casing when the rigid suspension member 29 is rotated after the head 1 has been lowered to a desirable position in the casing to advance the sleeve 17 along the stem 35 from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2. This movement of the sleeve 17 causes the spring 16 to act to force the presser ring 13 against the milling cutters 9 which thus are swung downwardly and outwardly from the positions shown in Figure 1 to expanded positions. Further rotation of the rigid tubular suspension member 29 will cause rotation of the head 1 against the action of the friction dogs 31 and the milling cutters 9 will cut into the casing 11 through the walls of the latter as shown in Figure 2. If it is desired to remove device from casing 4-1 after completing one cutting operation, the rigid suspension member 29 is lifted up and the milling cutters 9 are forced downward by casing 11 and fall into the recess 7, which is below the cutter surface of headl, and the tool is then lifted from the hole, and the upper end portion of the casing 41 subsequently removed in any suitable manner known. However, if so desired, a number of separate cutting'operations may be completed in the same casing without removing the device from the casing between cutting'operations. After the first cutting operation is completed, the device is lowered further in the casing to a desirable point and then is raised slightly to cause the milling cutters to bite into the casing when the tubular suspension member 29 is rotated. Obviously, as many cutting operations may be accomplished as may be desired in the casing with the construction illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the first cutting operation being made at a point nearest to the uppcrend of the casing and each subsequent cutting operation being made at a lower level in the casing.

\Vhen it is desired to make a plurality of successive cuts in the casing 41 beginning at the lower end of the casing, the cutter body is reversed end for end and is attached to the rigid suspension member 29 by means of the stem 2 and a union 27. The friction dogs 31, the shafts 30 and the expansion springs 34 are removed from the recesses 7 and are placed in the recesses 36 of the sleeve 17, which now is at the lower end of 40 the body, as illustrated in Figure 4. The device now is lowered in the casing 41 to a desired position and the friction dogs 31 will act to hold the sleeve against rotation in the casing when the suspension member 29 is turned about its longitudinal axis in one direction. This turning of the tubular suspension member 29 is in the direction required to causethe sleeve 17 and the stem 3-5 to be moved relatively until the spring 16 is under compression sufiicient to cause such upward movement of the presser ring 13 as is required to swing the milling, cutters 9 upward and outward from the positions shown in Figure 4 to expanded positions. It then will be understood that further turning of the rigid suspension member 29 in the direction mentioned will cause the sleet-e17 and the body of the milling cutter to be turned as a unit and the milling cutters will cut through the walls of the casing. After, this one cutting operation has been completed, the device is raised in the casing 41 to the point at which another cutting operation is to be made, the milling cutters 9 being forced inward because of their engagement with the inner wall of the casing and the presser ring 13 being forced downward against the action of the spring 16.

' In Figure 5, I show another arrangement which comprises the cutter body attached to the rigid suspension member 29 by a reducing coupling having threads at one end for engaging with the threads at the lower end of the suspension member 29 and threads at its opposite end for engaging with the threads 19 on the inner end portion 3 of the second named stem of the cutter body. The remaining elements of the device with the exception of the milling cutters 9 and their supporting shafts 8 need not be used in carrying out the operation of cutting through a union, such as indicated at 51, which connects two lengthsof casing such as indicated at 52 and 53, respectively. The body of the cutter is lowered-in the casing 525153, and the milling cutters will swing outward at the lower end of the sec Fluid may pass longitudinally of the casing in which the devices is disposed in one direction through the central bore 39 and return past the head 1 through the channels elongated body having a head and having an axial stem, said head having a vertical recess in its outer wall extending from the Obviously the invention is susceptible of end thereof from which said stem extends, a milling cutter pivotally supported at its inner end in said recess and swingable from position inwardly of the outer wall of the head to and from position to extend outward beyond the outer wall of the head, a

presser ring slidable on said stem in contact with said milling cutter, a sleeve on said stem adjustably engaged with the stem, a coil spring disposed on the stem between said sleeve and said presser ring, means on said head frietionally engageable with the inner wall of a casing in which said body is received, and means for limiting the movements on said stem of said sleeve, said sleeve being adapted at its outer end for connection with a means for lowering said body in a tubular casing and for imparting a torque to said sleeve.

2. An inside pipe cutter comprising an elongated body having a head and having an axial stem, said head having a vertical recess in its outer wall extending from the end thereof from which said stem extends, a milling cutter pivotally supported at its inner end in said recess, and swingable from position inwardly of the outer wall of the head to and from position to extend outward beyond the outer wall of the head, a presser ring slidable on said stem and in contact with said milling cutter, a sleeve on said stem adjustably engaged with the stem, a coil spring disposed on the stem between said sleeve and said presser ring, a spring pressed pivoted friction dog carried by said head and urged continuously to position to extend outward beyond the outer wall of the head, means for limiting the movement on said stem of said sleeve, said sleeve being adapted at its outer end for connecting with a means for lowering said body in a tubular casing and for imparting a torque to said sleeve.

3. An inside pipe cutter comprising a body having a head and axial stems extending from opposite ends of the head, and said head having a recess in its outer wall extending from one of its ends, a milling cutter pivotally supported at one end in an end portion of said recess and swingable to and from position to extend beyond the outer wall of said head, a transverse pivot element removably supported in the opposite end portion of said recess, a friction dog supported at one end on said transverse pivot element, a removable spring member seated in said recess for urging the free end of said friction dog outward, and a sleeve adjustably engaged with one of said stems, said sleeve and the other stem being adapted for connection selectively with a means for lowering said body in a vertical casing, said sleeve having a recess in its outer wall provided with alined openings for the reception of the transverse pivot element from said recess in the head and being also adapted for the reception of said friction dog and its impolling spring when said transverse pivot element, said friction dog, and the spring for actuating the friction dog have been transferred from the recess in said head to the recess in said sleeve.

GEORGE F. LE BUS. 

